Speak Up: Why Your Voice Matters

Young people are always underestimating their worth, and I don’t mean worth as in a monetary value. What we have to offer the world is priceless in every sense of the word. It can’t be bought or sold and it can’t be taken away from us. I recognize the plight of young people who live in countries where their voices are silenced by oppression, but I also recognize that even in countries where freedom of speech is not a luxury the people who live there can afford, people our age have found ways to stand up for what they believe in despite the consequences they might face for speaking out against unfair regimes.

Throughout history, we can find instances of high school and college students alike using their voices to make a difference in their communities, their countries, and across the world. Maybe we won’t see an 18-year-old president any time soon, but young people don’t need to hold a political office to change policy. The only weapon in our arsenal that we need is our voice.

I say that our voices are weapons because they are just as powerful as any firearm, and words truly do have power. They have the power to bring people together; inspire them to move into action, and to make a difference wherever they are. You are never too young to stand up for something you believe in. Even if you’re not old enough to vote, you can still use your voice to speak up about whatever it is you are passionate about. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are too young to understand something or that an issue doesn’t concern someone your age. Statements that use your age to undermine your intelligence, as well as the importance of your voice, are the tools that people will use in their attempt to disarm you, and they are completely false.

No one else has the ideas that you have or can think the way that you think. And this why your voice matters. Your words are unique and while they cannot be duplicated, they can be shared. All you have to do is speak up. There are people who might not listen to you because of your age but don’t let that discourage you because for every person who won’t listen, there will be someone who will. Once you realize that your voice truly matters and that it is powerful enough to make a difference, I have no doubt that you will make a difference in the world around you.

While worth is usually used in reference to monetary value, what we as young people have to offer the world is priceless in every sense of the word.

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Raven is a junior at the Pennsylvania State University pursuing a degree in Sociology with a minor in Business. In her spare time, she enjoys reading a wide variety of books, writing, and listening to tons of music. When Raven isn’t working on her latest writing project, you can find her on various social media sites tweeting random thoughts and pinning her favorite recipes on Pinterest.